a tough truth

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tough truth" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a difficult or uncomfortable reality that one must face or acknowledge. Example: "Accepting that failure is a part of growth is a tough truth that many people struggle with."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Reference

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It is a tough truth but if you irrigate with blue water, then you will run out because it is always over-allocated.

The Guardian

It's a bit narcissistic and might be a tough truth to tell yourself, but worth a hard look.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

He describes Mr. Virtue's pictures as "punk epics: gritty, brazen with tough truth".

The New York Times

He humanized confusion, modeled tough truth and touched the hearts of thousands of young men and women who are in search of their own identities (sexual and otherwise).

The New York Times

"Let's face the tough truth – that many people on the doorstep at the last election, felt that too often we were for shirkers not workers".

The Guardian

But ask them to pay for something better and they're heading for the exit: while the rough, tough truth of media ownership remains.

The Guardian

So I must tell you the tough truth about the hard choices: my motivation is always to do the right thing by the British people — investing more during this recession and others are following our lead.

The Guardian

The Treasury minister Sajid Javid upped the stakes, quoting back at Labour the shadow work secretary Liam Byrne's conference speech two years ago, when he said: "Let's face the tough truth – that many people on the doorstep at the last election felt that too often we were for shirkers, not workers".

The Guardian

The tough truth?

Forbes

It takes courage, vulnerability, tough truth telling to others, but especially to yourself to achieve your dreams.

Huffington Post

Yet elected officials--including the President--seem just as afraid of losing voters by telling this tough truth, as they are afraid of losing the contributions of the insurance and fast food lobby.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tough truth" when you want to emphasize the difficulty or unpleasantness of a particular fact or situation that needs to be acknowledged.

Common error

Don't use "a tough truth" when a more neutral phrasing like "a fact" or "the reality" would be more appropriate. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tough truth" functions as a noun phrase, where "tough" modifies "truth". It emphasizes the challenging or unpleasant nature of the truth being presented. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Reference

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tough truth" is a noun phrase used to emphasize the difficulty or unpleasantness of a particular fact or situation. Ludwig confirms it is grammatically correct and usable. The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media, and reference contexts. When writing, it's best to use this phrase when you want to highlight the challenging nature of a truth that needs to be acknowledged, and avoid overuse to maintain impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hard fact

Replaces 'tough' with 'hard' to soften the emotional impact slightly, while maintaining the core meaning.

an inconvenient truth

Emphasizes the troublesome nature of the truth, suggesting it is unwanted or disregarded.

a harsh reality

Substitutes 'tough' with 'harsh' to intensify the unpleasantness and severity of the truth.

a bitter pill to swallow

Uses a metaphor to describe the unpleasantness of accepting the truth.

a difficult truth to accept

Highlights the struggle involved in acknowledging the truth.

an undeniable reality

Focuses on the irrefutable nature of the situation, making it impossible to ignore.

a stark reality

Emphasizes the blunt and unavoidable nature of the truth.

the unvarnished truth

Highlights the rawness and lack of embellishment in the truth.

the brutal reality

Intensifies the negative impact of the truth by using the word 'brutal'.

the plain truth

Underscores the clarity and simplicity of the truth, even if unpleasant.

FAQs

How can I use "a tough truth" in a sentence?

You can use "a tough truth" to introduce a difficult or unpleasant reality that must be faced. For example: "The company's financial difficulties are "a tough truth" that we must confront."

What are some alternatives to "a tough truth"?

Alternatives include "a hard fact", "an inconvenient truth", or "a harsh reality", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the tough truth" instead of "a tough truth"?

While "the tough truth" can be grammatically correct in certain contexts, "a tough truth" is generally used to refer to one specific instance of a difficult reality. "The tough truth" implies a more general or universal truth.

What's the difference between "a tough truth" and "a hard truth"?

The phrases are largely interchangeable. "Tough" emphasizes resilience and endurance in facing the truth, while "hard" emphasizes the difficulty in understanding or accepting it. The choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.